Detail 01
Book, CD, and DVD together
You hear the exercises and see the hand positions, which catches picking and fretting mistakes a book alone would let you keep making.
Product detailSKU #1322862755961
Hal LeonardPlay Mandolin Today! Beginner's Pack (Book/CD/DVD)
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A starter mandolin method with a book, CD, and DVD. For someone who owns a mandolin and wants a structured first path without a teacher.
Strong match
Who this is for
- A first-time mandolin player learning alone at home
- Guitarists crossing over who need the new tuning and fingerings
- Parents setting up a beginner with structured lessons
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Players who already read mandolin notation and know chords
- Anyone without a CD or DVD drive to play the discs
- Shoppers expecting a mandolin — this is instruction only
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Physical discs
Needs a CD player and DVD player or a computer drive. Many current laptops have neither.
Detail 03
Beginner method format
Lessons build in order — tuning, holding, first chords, then songs. Skipping ahead leaves gaps.
Detail 04
Method book, not a songbook
Songs are teaching material chosen for difficulty, not a set list of hits.
Detail 05
$22.99
Roughly the cost of a single lesson, covering the material a teacher spends the first several weeks on.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01No mandolin included — you need the instrument, picks, and a tuner
- 02Discs require a player or drive; check your laptop before ordering
- 03Mandolin's doubled strings need frequent tuning at first; expect setup time
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Does a mandolin come with this?
No. This is a book, CD, and DVD instruction pack. You supply the mandolin, a pick, and a tuner.
02Do I need to read music?
No. Beginner methods start from zero, teaching the notes and the fretboard as you go. Prior reading ability speeds things up but isn't assumed.
03What if I don't have a CD or DVD player?
You'd need a computer with an optical drive or an external USB drive. The audio and video content only ships on the physical discs.
04I play guitar — is this still useful?
Yes. Mandolin tunes in fifths, not fourths, so chord shapes and scale patterns are different. The method covers that from the start.
